"Get a PPI"......but what exactly should that include?

absolute "TOP" on the list is a leak down test of the engines cylinders. It is not a compression test, as much as its a diagnosis of leakage and can pinpoint precisely what is leaking where, and by what percentage. I would never pay good money for a car and miss that one. And also, if the seller wont let you do it, RUN!

 

This is an area where "those in the know" would be able to advise potential Ferrari buyers as to what to look for and expect in a "proper" PPI. This should be a stickie and should be supported by all those who know "right from wrong"!!!. IE, what should the PPI consist of?

Costa at FX - - Rafael at Arroyo - - Drex & Lee at LFSC - - and on and on - the many other knowledgeable pros, Michael Sh. & David Ol, I can't possibly list them all, those that care for our special cars. Give us guidance.

We're family. Let's act like one. It's good business sense too!

Cheers, Hank

 

I've had a couple PPI's done...it should include a function test of every accessory and control on the car (radio, A/C, heater, blower fans, defroster, windows, door locks, alarm, mirrors, etc). It should also include a careful inspection of the entire car, top to bottom (basically verifying the general condition with the indicated mileage). Brake pads, general condition of fluids, etc., but as mentioned, the key is a compression/leakdown test. A road test should also be part of the PPI.

Note that most mechanics are NOT body shop/painters, so I like to include an inspection by a good body man too. I don't care about repainted bumpers or wheels, those are invariably redone, due to curbs and rock chips, but I do care about any serious body damage and such.

 

After all the obvious items are checked and listed, one should ask the tech for an "off the record" opinion of the car. I know I have usually formed one within about 15 mins of starting the inspection.
I have stopped doing PPI's at my shop due to the problems encountered with doing them. First off, unless the car is perfect (most are not) someones feelings will be hurt and they will be upset. I have had customers try to pass off a car as perfect and when it is pointed out it is not, they are obviously upset. Now I have hurt a friendship by telling the truth about a car, for what, a couple of hundred $? There seems to be a double standard where a customer respects you for telling them the truth about their car while servicing it, yet expectations that you are willing to lie to a potential buyer about the condition of the car.
Somewhere along the line here another oddity poped up. If someone comes to me as a shop owner and requests me to do a PPI on a local car, I strangely enough expect that they will pay for this inspection regardless of the condition of the car. What the hell was I thinking? The last 2 folks decided that the car was mis-described to them by the seller (after the inspection) and for this reason they feel they do not have an obligation to pay the shop for the work performed. These are folks that post here and well known dealer / brokers whos name pops up frequently here. The only slock that has nothing to gain is the one that gets hurt. All this hasstle for a couple of hundred dollars makes NO business sence at all.
I had no set standard for a PPI as some of them only took 15 mins before I called it enough. Some took 3 hours because I had a gut feeling that something was amiss. Consider the norm at 2-3 hrs to get a very accurate feeling of the car. Make sure the person checking out the car has no vested interest in the sale, or a big club being held over their head while listing the results of the inspection. Just as a side note, pay the shop for their efforts, they might just be doing you a favor.

Dave Helms
Scuderia Rampante Inc.

 

going over the service records is an important part of any ppi,one needs to see how work was done,for example I looked at a 95 355 not long ago and the engine out service was just done buy a major dealer. As I looked over the car I saw some oil seepage around the cam seals,I looked at the bill from the major and no seals in the part's list no valve cover gaskets. there were other things missing that I feel should of been done to a 10 year old 10000 mile border line garage queen.Ferrari.I feel that no Dealer would just do a half major to a Ferrari it had to be the previous owner telling the shop to just do the belts and nothing else a cheep way to be able to sell his Ferrari with the "major just done",well some of it was done
Going over the service records is key
DAVID